Humidifier structure



April 1952 w. FELDERMANN 2 ,591,057

HUMIDIFIER STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 19, 1949 I N VEN TOR.

William Flazrmazm J MIL M W HTTORNEXS Patented Apr. 1, 1952 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a functionally and structurally improved humidifier assembly by means which air within a given spacesuch as a roommay have a desired humidity or moisture content.

It is an object of the invention to furnish a structure of this nature and by means of which the air into which the moisture is to be dispersed may be desirably filtered by a unit which may be readily cleaned and renewed when necessary.

A further object is that of providing a humidifier structure which may be desirably supported as a single unit and which, when the parts are separated, will involve a design such that the motor driven water-distributing assembly will not be damaged.

An additional object is that of providing a structure involving relatively few and individu-- ally rugged parts capable of ready manufacture and which parts when assembled will furnish a unitary structure operating Over long periods of time with freedom from all difiicultie's.

With these and other objects in mind reference is had to the attached sheet of drawings illustrating one practical embodiment of the inven-- tion and in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional side View taken through the assembly; and

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the device with certain of the parts broken away.

With primary reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the numeral 5 indicates a casing preferably formed of sheet metal and havin an annular series of outlet ports 6. This casing may enclose a motor I, the shaft of which serves to drive a Water-elevating tube 8, terminating in an upper distributing head 9. Adjacent the latter a disk It) is disposed to rotate with the motor shaft. Beyond the edge of this disk a bafiie structure in the form of a comb ll having a mounting flange [2 may be disposed. The latter is stationary. An air impeller 13 may be secured to the outer face of tube 8 to rotate therewith and thus cause a proper air flow.

With a view to supporting the motor I the casing of the latter may be provided with extensions l4. These mount legs I5 in line with which extensions I! are disposed. Stress or cushion members I6 may be interposed between legs [5 and I1 and a casing [8 which extends below the plane of the impeller l3 and thence upwardly from the element Hi to conveniently terminate in a flange portion [9. A gasket 20 is conveniently interposed between this flange portion and the lower edge of easing 5 so that the latter is properly supported. At this time it is to be noted that an appreciable space exists between the exterior face of tube 8 and the inner lower edge of casing [8 andthat the foregoing structure merely represents one form of a humidifier assembly which may incorporate the present invention.

A structure such as this may conveniently be suspended from the ceiling. Whether it is so suspended or otherwise mounted, a relatively heavy ring 2!, preferably of metal extends beyond' the outer face of casing 5 below the lower edge of the latter and in line with the upper edge of easing [8. This mounting ring 2| is conveniently furnished with an upwardly extending flange 22 which underlies flange portion I9 and thus supports both casings 5 and I8 as well as the structures associated therewith. Adjacent its outer edge the mounting ring is conveniently formed with a flange 23. Suspension device 24 including relatively movableparts or jaws may engage this flange and be locked against movement with respect thereto. The upper end of these suspension elements may extend from a ceiling or other suspending structure (not shown). In any event, it is apparent that in this manner the ring 2| is properly supported against movement.

Extending downwardly from the supporting ring 25 at points preferably substantially midway between its edges are posts 25. The lower ends of these may in turn mount or be integral with hubs 26, the lower faces of which are grooved or slotted. A water receiving pan 2! may have its upper edge beaded as at 28. Securing elements 29 of any desired type may be associated with the hubs 26 and serve to retain the bead 28 within the slots thereof. A water supply pipe 30, may extend through to the pan 2! and anoverflow pipe 3| may extend from the same. The latter is, of course, located at a higher level than the former. The supply pipe 30 may have associated with it any suitable control mechanism such as a float-controlled valve in order to maintain a proper height of water within pan 21. As shown casing i8 may be provided with an overflow pipe [8. I

With a view to providing a proper air flow directing structure, a casing 32 may be concentrically disposed with respect to and spaced from pan 21. The lower end of casing 32 is initially open and in use is covered by a filter unit. This may include a U-shaped ring 33 into which the edge of a'disk 34' of filtering material extends. The latter may comprise glass wool, or any other suitable fibrous material in the form of one or more disks. Preferably its upper and lower surfaces are supported by layers of mesh 35 which may extend into the space defined by ring 33. Quick-releasable catches 36 conveniently maintain the filter unit in sealing contact with the lower edge of casing 32. Any suitable securing means such as bolts 31 support the upper edge of casing 32 with respect to rings 2|.

Thus, with the parts suitably supported and the pan 21 filled to a proper level with water, it is apparent that when motor 1 is operated, liquid will be drawn up through tube 8 and distributed by head 9 over the surface of disk l0. Accordingly, an even flowing film is provided which will impinge against the teeth of comb H and thus be distributed in the form of a finely atomized spray. Simultaneously due to the operation of the impeller I3 air will be drawn through the body of the filter and the space intervening pan 21 and casing 32. The air will pass over the edge of pan 21 and thence inwardly through the openings defined by the base of casing I8 which will thus act as a shroud plate for the impeller. From the latter air will flow outwardly between the teeth of comb l I and so through casing 5 and pass through opening 6.

As is apparent when the filter body needs cleaning the catches 38 may be readily released. Thereupon the filter may be cleaned or else replaced. Air will pass upwardly through this filter whether the unit is suspended from the ceiling or otherwise supported. Under all conditions ring 2| will provide a desirable mounting to assure a unitary and properly supported assembly. When it is desirable to remove the motor and its associated parts this may readily be accomplished by simply lifting the casing 5, the motor 1 and the several structures supported by the latter. Thereupon these parts may be supported by the mounting legs l1 so that no damage will occur to the lower end' of tube 8 incident to contact with a surface upon which the assembly is supported.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as specifically aforenoted are achieved. Obviously, numerous changes in construction and rearrangement of the parts might be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. A humidifier assembly including in combination a transversely extending supporting ring presenting inner and outer edges, a motor driven air and water distributing structure projecting through said ring and bearing in substantially air tight relation against its inner edge surface, a pan supported below and spaced from said ring at a point intermediate its edges to encircle in spaced relation the lower end of said distributing structure and a casing having its upper edge portion secured in substantially air tight relation to said ring adjacent the outer ring edge and extending downwardly therefrom whereby air will flow upwardly towards said ring through said casing, around the upper edge of the pan, downwardly into said pan and thence upwardly through the distributing structure to be discharged above said ring.

2. A humidifier assembly including in combination a transversely extending supporting ring presenting inner and outer edges, 2. motor driven air and water distributing structure projecting through said ring and bearing in substantially air tight relation against its inner edge surface,

a pan supported below and spaced from said ring at a point intermediate its edges to encircle in spaced relation the lower end of said distributing structure, a casing having its upper edge portion secured in substantially air tight relation to said ring adjacent the outer ring edge and extending downwardly therefrom whereby air will flow upwardly toward said ring through said casing, around the upper edge of the pan, downwardly into said pan and thence upwardly through the distributing structure to be discharged above said ring and a filter closing the lower end of said casing.

3. A humidifier assembly including in combination a transversely extending supporting ring presenting inner and outer edges, a motor driven air and water distributing structure projecting through said ring and bearing in substantially air tight relation against its inner edge surface, a pan supported below and spaced from said ring at a point intermediate its edges to encircle in spaced relation the lower end of said distributing structure, a casing having its upper edge portion secured in substantially air tight relation to said ring adjacent the outer ring edge and extending downwardly therefrom whereby air will flow upwardly towards said ring through said casing, around the upper edge of the pan, downwardly into said pan and thence upwardly through the distributing structure to be discharged above said ring, a filter closing the lower end of said casing and overlapping the lower edge thereof to prevent a passage of air into said casing except through said filter and quick detachable means extending between said casing and filter to removably secure the latter to said casing.

4. A humidifier assembly including in combination a transversely extending supporting ring presenting inner and outer edges, a motor driven air and water distributing structure projecting through said ring and bearing in substantially air tight relation against its inner edge surface, a pan supported below and spaced from said ring at a point intermediate its edges to encircle in spaced relation the lower end of said distributing structure, a casing having its upper edge portion secured in substantially air tight relation to said ring adjacent the outer ring edge and extending downwardly therefrom whereby air will now upwardly towards said ring through said casing, around the upper edge of the pan, downwardly into said pan and thence upwardly through the distributing structure to be discharged above said ring and a mounting structure forming a part of said ring adjacent the outer edge thereof at a point radially beyond the point of securing of the casing to said ring to provide a support for the entire humidifier assembly.

5. A humidifier assembly including in combination a transversely extending supporting ring presenting inner and outer edges, a motor driven air and water distributing structure projecting through said ring and bearing in substantially air tight relation against its inner edge surface, a plurality of posts secured to and extending downwardly from said ring, a pan secured to the lower ends of said posts whereby said pan is supported and spaced from said ring at a point intermediate its edges to encircle in spaced relation the lower end of said distributing structure and a casing having its upper edge portion secured in substantially air tight relation to said ring adjacent the outer ring edge and extending downwardly therefrom whereby air will flow upwardly towards said ring through said casing, around the upper edge of the pan, downwardly into said pan and thence upwardly through the distributin structure to be discharged above said ring.

6'. A humidifier assembly including in combination a transversely extending supporting ring presenting inner and outer edges, a motor driven air and water distributing structure, the upper end of said structure being defined by an enlargement, the lower end of said structure projecting through said ring and the enlarged upper end of said structure limiting such projection, whereby said structure will bear in substantially air tight relation against the inner edge surface of said ring, a pan supported below and spaced from said ring at a point intermediate its edges to encircle in spaced relation the lower end of said distributing structure and a casing having its upper edge portion secured in substantially air tight relation to said ring adjacent the outer ring edge and extending downwardly therefrom wardly through the distributing structure to be discharged above said ring.

WILLIAM FELDERMANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,812,356 Mills June 30, 1931 2,189,021 Schury Feb. 6, 1940 2,263,194 Shepherd Nov. 18, 1911 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 242,533 Great Britain Nov. 12, 1925 189,830 Switzerland Mar. 31, 1937 

